Reprieve for GLF Elevators

Tim Tielman of the Campaign for Greater Buffalo History, Architecture & Culture just called in to say that his group has won a restraining order preventing Ontario Specialty Contracting from moving forward with its plan to demolish two of four structures in the GLF grain elevator complex.

(The photo of the complex to the right is by Bruce Jackson, whose grain elevator studies are exhibited at UB’s Anderson Gallery.)

The city’s Preservation Board, of which Tielman is a member, refused to approve the demolition plan for the historic structures, but the city’s commissioner of permits and inspections, Jim Comerford, issued an emergency demolition order, calling the structures an imminent danger.

The Campaign for Greater Buffalo History, Architecture & Culture disagrees, and argues that Ontario Specialty Contracting and the city have not sufficiently investigated the feasibility of preserving the structures.

Judge Timothy Walker granted the stay of execution. When we know more, we’ll post it here.

Does Tim have a plan for the site? Is he going to develope it some time soon? Or is this just one more pile of crap to watch waste into the ground and remind us of Buffalo’s lost glory?

Aaron

This is our history, the elevators are our ruins from the industrial age (like Greece has the Parthenon). I only hope Mr Tielman can secure funds to preserve this structure and make it safe. Otherwise it is a crumbling danger for the city.

GoTim

Thank you Tim for, time and time again, stepping up to save our heritage, while few others will do so. I hope that those who care will reach out to you and offer resources so that we can stave off more unnecessary demolitions (which have been going on for far too long) to either a) reuse the properties immediately and/or b) mothball them for future use.

Where the hell is the City in all of this? As with everything else, they are MIA. No preventative measures are being taken.

Fred

Preserve it? Why? I counted 7 of these things driving in today. Save one, maybe the biggest one, and make it a museum or something, but these rotting monsters are all on prime real estate and the fact is they are only good for holding silage, you can’t do anything with them.

But leave it to Buffalo interests to slow down any possible progressive growth, or a possible taxable entity that might actually be established on this site.

Who needs taxes, we’ll just keep beggin for handouts.

chester

Fred – Your comment includes a number of statements that are either wrong or misleading. Calling this “prime real estate” suggests that the presence of the elevators is blocking some other development. At the GLF, the proposed use for the cleared land is, at best, parking of equipment, hardly a “prime” use. As for you statement that the elevators can be repurposed, this is demonstrably I don’t think any elevator was used to store “silage” which is an entirely different agricultural product than grain.

Fred

Thanks Chester, now let’s take a step back and look again, you need to read a little closer buddy. I used silo in the general term of a waterfront area populated with many of these dinosaurs, note mention of at least seven that I can count driving down the highway, also I am sorry if silage was not put in these particular silos, how that misleads anyone I am not sure how that changes the issues but maybe grain was in there, still the point is how do you repurpose silos into anything but a holding container for (you put in product here as you see fit), secondly, prime real estate can be the change that should come to the many abandoned once industrial areas around and near our waterfront. Although there are many pollution issues that need to be addressed, see property behind Honeywell, it can be and should be done. Second, if the GLF is basically abandoned, any use, even additional industrial would create maybe jobs? taxable interest in the land?
Thanks again for your corrections and short sited look at saving more relicts of no value to our community. But I am open you explain how can savings this thing be of any value to the community?

JLD

When is Tim T. gonna step up to the plate with his deep pockets and purchase these so called historic structure…is he paying taxes on these?, is he contributing to the maintenance?…no just cheap talk from a man hell bent on finding reasons to make a name for himself as the god given gift to Buffalo saving? old buildings that need to come down for progress, by the rightful, property taxpaying individual!!
Soon he will be the authorized expert to decree what brand of ass wipe you must use!!

Fred

By the way your last sentence does not make any sense. What is “this is demonstrably I don’t think… This is gibberish man.

Nick Williams

Oh no, whatever shall we do without these crumbling piles of crap that are on a backwater canal in the industrial part of the old First Ward? It’s not like they have been “used” as a marina for the past decade. And I know the historical society has already offered to pay for the upkeep and renewal of these “historic” structures.
Oh, wait, they have been a marina. And now they are the property of Ontario Specialty Contracting, and these s**theads on the “Preservation” Board just want to feel self righteous and important for “saving” these decrepit pieces of crap. It is a sad day indeed when someone who does his best everyday to improve the city he works has to fight against those who are unwilling to help themselves.